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| Word Immersion tsunami takes Andros by storm |
Devin Francis
Guardian Production Editor devin@nasguard.com
Published: Jul 26, 2012
Sheldon D. Newton Ministries’ 2012 Word Immersion Conference took North Andros by storm last week. The conference, which occurred from July 16-20 and was held under the theme “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”, did not fail to deliver as God’s Word was sent forth with power, purpose and persuasion. Androsians from Lowe Sound to Red Bays packed Pastor Abraham Colebrooke’s Word of God Prayer Ministry on Queen’s Highway nightly to receive a mighty impartation brought forth by Bishop Newton, Pastor Stephen Gilbert and Minister Tina Rahming, as they ministered under a powerful anointing of God’s Spirit through teaching, preaching and music. Bishop Newton said that the conference was a resounding success. “Most nights the church was completely full, other nights it was relatively full... people were hungry for the Word of God and stayed as long as the Word was taught,” said Bishop Newton. “We had awesome praise and worship [led by Minister Rahming and Pastor Gilbert] that brought in such an anointing that it was easy to minister the Word.” The ministry team’s purpose for going to Andros was to feed to the people the Word of God and to get people established in the Word. Bishop Newton was confident they did just that. In addition, he was happy to see young people fired up and eager to hear the Word. “There was a young man whose mother told him that he had to stay home and watch the baby... He told her that he would have to take the baby to church and let the baby sleep on his lap. He didn’t want to miss a thing. “The young people were excited and that touched the heart of the host pastor (Pastor Colebrooke) because he was excited that the young people were excited as the Word went out.” Bishop Newton, who has been preaching for 30 years said that even though many people have had evangelistic ministry and preaching, not a lot of those people have had foundational teaching on how to live for Christ. “It is our goal, our aim and our mandate from the Lord to get in the Family Islands and make disciples or disciplined students of the Word. To teach them to grow in Christ and teach them how to live this life on a practical everyday basis,” he said. “When we do these word immersion conferences it is about getting people so filled up on the Word that they have a practical understanding of how to live the Word in their everyday life.” Bishop Newton, who pastors Jesus Christ Centered Ministries International on Carmichael Road with his wife Jennifer, said that a part of the teaching in Andros centered around showing Christians, who are spirit, soul and body how to bring their flesh under subjection to the Word. “Most Christians fall prey to their flesh, so we showed them how the battle happens between their spirit and their flesh and what to do with the flesh, and how to bring it under. We aim to make the Word of God as practical as possible,” he said. “God’s Word is practical. Word immersion is about immersing a person’s spirit and mind in the Word of God. We are going to live out whatever is in us in abundance and these conferences are all about getting the Word in a person in abundance so that the person can live the Word out.” Bishop Newton said that Pastor Gilbert, who is also a pastor at Jesus Christ Centered Ministries International, ministered powerfully over two days and encouraged the people to get the Word inside them and then on knowing the Word in relation to the will of God. “Pastor Gilbert was very well received and I believe that people’s lives were encouraged, motivated and changed through his message.” Minister Rahming, a native of Red Bays, Andros, said that she was very happy with the way the Lord moved over the five days and was confident that God’s purpose for the mission trip was fully accomplished. “I know I was blessed,” she said. “It was awesome... The Word came forth with power and we stressed the importance of getting and being immersed in the Word of God. That was really important. I think the conference was a huge success.” Minister Rahming, who led praise and worship in every service said that the Holy Spirit took control as she ministered and interrupted her agenda with one of His own. “I came to Andros with a list of songs that I planned to sing during the praise and worship, but I didn’t use any of those songs,” she said. “I knew that it was God’s conference and I asked Him to take control. It was not about me putting on a performance. It was about ministering and the job of a worship leader is just that — to lead the people into worship. That was the mindset I had. I was going to give God my all for the entire time we were there.” Minister Rahming said that she was elated by the fact that several people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Savior, and that young Christians who attended the conference seemed to be hungry for God’s Word and had a genuine desire to live pure, holy lives. Eleanor Johnson, a pastor at Jesus Christ Centered Ministries International, who also traveled to Andros for the conference said that she too was pleased with the hunger she saw in many of the young people in attendance. Pastor Johnson said that the conference was a tremendous success and that she was confident that many lives were changed for the better because of it. “The people were blessed and they were moved,” she said. “It stirred my heart to see that level of hunger among the people in Andros. It was wonderful. It is clear to me that God is doing something,” she said. “I have never seen this degree of hunger for God’s Word. People seem to want to be more exposed to the Word and it’s always good when people, who want to, can get the Word at that high level.” |
